The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-06-04

we lost no time in reaching the gate Tho
guard opened it Immediately. The word
American" had charm for them, es-
pecially as it was followed by handful of
piasters thrown at them when the gate was
| opened. Ipresume they imagined we did
it in our drunken fun, but it Gas really to-
draw their attention from our companion
After we had passed through l locked the
gate and threw away the key. The guards
were too busy picking up the money to heed
laundering at the gate after we had gone
on. We did not reach our boats too soon,
for we could hear muttering voices and
tramping feet close behind u.s. With muf-
fled oars we pulled for my friends brig
We had proceeded not more than fifty yards
from the shore when we heard our pur-
suers jumping into boats at the landing
Who they were we could not tell, but they
had not the customary lights with them TO-
indicate that they were honest citizens
The extreme darkness favored our flight
among the many vessels anchored in the
harbor, most of which had their anchor
lights up. My friends vessel had two
lights in the main rigging as a private
signal These were put out as soon as we
reached the deck.
Entering the cabin, we again saw the
| face of the lady. AS l have before said
she was the most beautiful woman had
ever seen. | could not help feeling that
my friend was not the handsome fellow
that deserved to be united to such lowell
ness-yet the gods mated Venus and Vul-
can. The Swedish Captain was speeches.
with admiration | acted as his ambassa-
dor, and Informed her how desperately in
love he was, and that he was determined
to save her or lose his life in the attempt.
She was now free to act for herself, but 1
was sure that if she married him she would
have loving husband AS | had been
concerned in her rescue from captivity l
felt it my right, as well as my dutyt urge
her to accept him. She did not utter
word but remained perfectly passive.
advised him to leave the cabin ana get his
ship under way at once. My bolts crew
would assist him. The vessel must be out
side the harbor said before daylight, and
before sunrise be well into the SEA Of Mar
mora. And so we parted.
1t was five o'clock when I reached my
ship. Sleep was out of the question. The
events of the previous few days we're like
dream Qua of which | had just awakened.
The consequences might have ben serious
to me. But was always readyior adven-
lures, and had been in many prdicament
equally hazardous. l lived, as all young
sailors live, on romance and daring. The
excitement of this occasion was as exhil-
arating to me as champagne is b wine
bibber.
In the morning was visited oy several
of the captains who had been M guests Of
the night before. They had feltsome fear
for our safety when they leaned that q
conflict had taken place between the guard
in tho Ixra nod ,ria n6 hand
of Greek robbers. Two of therobbers had
been killed. These must have been our
pursuers, who, after we had eluded them,
had returned and attacked the guard. They
were overpowered by a company of soldiers
from the fort, who were making their
rounds to relieve the guard. OF course l
knew nothing Of what had become of the
Swedish Captain. / assured them that he
went safely on board, and was to have
sailed at sunrise and that, as the wind was
fresh and fair | supposed he was off.
feigned an attack of rheumatism as an ex-
cuse for not going ashore that day. The
following day our Consul hearing l was
sick, came on board. From him Learned
one of the wives of Pasha of the army had
made her escape by the aid, it was sup
posed, of the Greek robbers, some Of whom
had been captured and would be executed
unless they told where their companions
and the captive were to be found. 1t was
supposed that she was held for a ransom.
A rigid search was made on board all the
Greek vessels, of which there were many
lying in the harbor, but, of course, the
lady was not found.
Our Consul, l think, had his suspicious as
to the manner of the lady's escape from the
palace. He asked me to dine with him, say
ing that |, being person so well known in
Pera, would be missed if did not go ashore
and show myself at my usual resorts. took
his advice, and dined with him, remaining
all night at the Consulate, which he insisted
upon my making my home for the rest of
my stay. He was too much Of a gentleman
to question me, whatever he may have
thought and l deemed it advisable, because
of his official position, to keep him in ignor
ance of my part in the affair.
Twill here give the sequel Nine years
later, while in command of the clipper-ship
Dreadnaught, arriving in New York one day
l made fast at my usual berth at the foot of
Rector street, when Captain Hope, Sandy
Hook pilot who was harbormaster at the
time, boarded my vessel and told me that
Swedish brig was lying at Pie; s, and that
her Captain was very anxious to meet me be-
fore he sailed The Constantinople episode
had nearly passed from my mind in the ex-
citing years that had interviewed AS soon as
our gang plank was hauled ashore lady and
gentleman came on board. Twas standing on
the quarterback with some custom-house
officers and passengers. The lady, whom l
Immediately recognized, came forward and
embraced me with much warmth, and the
gentleman followed suit The pleasure at
tending this happy meeting was shared by
| all who witnessed it. 1t is needless to say
that the pair were the Swedish Captain
and the lady whom l had assisted to escape
from Constantinople That truth is indeed
stranger than fiction is here exemplified.
After leaving Constantinople their JOY was
unspeakabie upon discovering that they
had been lovers in their childhood. She
was the tlaxen-haired girl for whom my
friend had pinned so long. When they
parted as children her family went to Mos
COW, where they remained several years,
and where she had the advantage Of an ex-
cellent education and became proficient
linguist. Her great beauty attracted uni
versal attention. She was courted by many,
but won by none Her father received the
| appointment Of Consul at Odessa, but he
| gave up this place and migrated to Alex.
andria, where he became grain exporter.
This frequently necessitated journeys into
the interior of Egypt and his beautiful
| daughter was his constant companion